scholarly journals Severe Spinal Infection after Vertebral Fracture Stabilization: A Narrow Escape

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (02) ◽  
pp. 139-142
Author(s):  
Ved Prakash Maurya ◽  
D. Elangovan ◽  
V. Mourougayan ◽  
M. Ranjini

AbstractSpinal cord injury is typical following fall from height. The thoracolumbar vertebra undergoes maximum fracture following trauma. A 26-year-old man was brought to the emergency department with a history of fall from height. Clinical examination showed weakness in lower limbs with the inability to pass urine. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spine done elsewhere was suggestive of loss of second lumbar (L2) vertebral body height with compression over the lower end of the cord. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the spine revealed a burst fracture of L2 vertebra with bone fragments protruding into the spinal canal. The patient was taken up for spinal decompression with stabilization. His hospital stay was uneventful, and two weeks after discharge he was readmitted with wound bulge over the operative site. We started him on intravenous antibiotics and did regular debridement of the wound. Later on, he underwent wound closure with flap rotation.At last follow-up, he was ambulant with bladder and bowel control. During treatment, the titanium implants were left in situ. The decision for implant removal in early wound infection is at the discretion of the operating surgeon, along with the timing and nature of the disease.

2022 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 2247-48
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mohsin Sajjad ◽  
Sidra Yousaf

Metachromatic Leukodystrophy is a lysosomal storage autosomal recessive disease characterized by arylsulphatase enzyme deficiency, with central and peripheral demyelination. We report a case of a 15-year-old girl with 6 months history of progressive muscular weakness, poor school performance, gradual memory loss and gait disturbance. Neurological examination was grossly normal, except mild muscle wastage in both upper and lower limbs and slight reduction of power globally in all limbs. Routine bloods including a lumbar puncture was normal and the diagnosis of metachromatic leukodystrophy was made on the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliyu Ibrahim ◽  
Aisha Shuaibu ◽  
Usman Adamu Nuhu ◽  
Hauwa A. Aliyu

Anterior Spinal Cord Infarction (ASCI) syndrome typically results from ischemia that affects the anterior spinal artery territory characterized by history of sudden onset flaccid paraplegia or quadriplegia depending on the level of the lesion. We describe a 57-years-old woman with sudden onset flaccid weakness of the lower limbs and numbness of the feet of two days duration, preceded by a day history of fever and several episodes of vomiting. Examination initially revealed bilateral hypotonia, hyporeflexia and dense paraplegia, with preservation of dorsal column sensations (fine touch/2-point discrimination, position and vibration sensation). Twenty-four hours thereafter a repeat examination showed hyper-reflexia and extensor plantar response with spastic paraplegia. Thoracic spine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed thinning of the spinal cord extending from T1 to T9 levels with associated widening of the thecal sac suggestive of anterior spinal cord infarction with no other signal changes seen within the substance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 07 (S 01) ◽  
pp. S057-S061
Author(s):  
Mehmet Onur Yüksel ◽  
Mehmet Sabri Gürbüz ◽  
Şevki Gök ◽  
Numan Karaarslan ◽  
Merih İş ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Aim: Our aim was to determine whether a combination of sagittal index (SI), canal compromise (CC), and loss of vertebral body height (LVBH) is associated with the severity of neurological injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. Materials and Methods: Seventy-four patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture undergoing instrumentation between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The degree of neurological injury was determined using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scoring system. The association between the morphology of the fracture and the severity of neurological injury was analyzed. Results: There was a strong association between fracture morphology and the severity of neurological injury. Of the patients, 77.5% with SI ≥20°, 81.6% with CC ≥40%, and 100% with LVBH ≥50% had lesion according to ASIA. All of 7 patients with ASIA A had SI ≥20°, CC ≥40%, and LVBH ≥50%. On the other hand, 79% of the patients with ASIA E had SI <20°, 83.7% of the patients with ASIA E had CC <40%, and all of the patients with ASIA E had LVBH <50%. SI, CC, and LVBH were lower in neurologically intact patients (ASIA E), whereas they were higher in patients with neurological deficits (ASIA A, B, C, D) (P = 0.001; P < 0.01). These measurements had 100% negative predictive values and relatively high positive predictive values. Conclusion: SI, CC, and LVBH are significantly associated with the severity of neurological injury in patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures. The patients with SI >25°, the patients with CC >40%, and the patients with LVBH >50% are likely to have a more severe neurological injury.


Author(s):  
Yashaswi Pandey ◽  
Kalyani Saidhandhapani

As with many rare conditions, little is known about cauda equina syndrome (CES) and reproduction. Knowledge pertaining to complications during pregnancy and its management in a patient with diagnosed case of CES is even more scant. The information which we have is from attending on individual cases who presented with CES diagnosed during pregnancy. The following case report demonstrates pregnancy in a known case of CES, diagnosed after sustaining a burst fracture of lumbar vertebrae followed by surgical decompression at puberty. Patient conceived spontaneously with residual disease as symptoms of perineal numbness, sensory deficit in both lower limbs and persistent saddle hypoesthesia along with foot drop and gait abnormalities and presented at 30 weeks of gestation. CES is an unusual entity that appears in between 2-6% of all cases of disc herniation in the lumbar segment. Related post-traumatic presentations are extremely rare. Pregnancy exacerbates most problems associated with spinal cord injury. Autonomic dysreflexia may present as a complication in a case of pregnancy with CES which may be life threatening and requires immediate treatment. Antenatal management and complications of pregnancy in a diagnosed case of CES has not been documented till date.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3 And 4) ◽  
pp. 155-160
Author(s):  
Mohsen Aghapoor ◽  
◽  
Babak Alijani Alijani ◽  
Mahsa Pakseresht-Mogharab ◽  
◽  
...  

Background and Importance: Spondylodiscitis is an inflammatory disease of the body of one or more vertebrae and intervertebral disc. The fungal etiology of this disease is rare, particularly in patients without immunodeficiency. Delay in diagnosis and treatment of this disease can lead to complications and even death. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old diabetic female patient, who had a history of spinal surgery and complaining radicular lumbar pain in both lower limbs with a probable diagnosis of spondylodiscitis, underwent partial L2 and complete L3 and L4 corpectomy and fusion. As a result of pathology from tissue biopsy specimen, Aspergillus fungi were observed. There was no evidence of immunodeficiency in the patient. The patient was treated with Itraconazole 100 mg twice a day for two months. Pain, neurological symptom, and laboratory tests improved. Conclusion: The debridement surgery coupled with antifungal drugs can lead to the best therapeutic results.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 2-6
Author(s):  
Asad Naqvi ◽  
Timothy Ariyanayagam ◽  
Mir Akber Ali ◽  
Akhila Rachakonda ◽  
Hema N. Choudur

Objective: The objective of this study was to outline a novel unique concept of secondary impingement of the muscles, myotendons, and tendons of the rotator cuff from hypertrophy as a result of strength training exercises. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, 58 patients were referred for an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by the orthopedic surgeon to the radiology department over a period of 1½ years. All patients gave a history of strength training exercises and presented with clinical features of rotator cuff impingement. Results: We identified features of hypertrophy of rotator cuff muscles, myotendons, and tendons in 12 of these 58 patients. This was the only abnormality on MRI. The hypertrophy of rotator cuff muscles and tendon bulk completely filling the subacromial space to the point of overfilling and resulting in secondary compressive features. Conclusion: Rotator cuff impingement is a common phenomenon that can occur with various inlet and outlet pathological conditions. However, rotator cuff impingement may also result from muscle and tendon hypertrophy from strength training regimens. Hypertrophy of the rotator cuff can result in overfilling of the subacromial space, leading to secondary impingement, which we have termed as “pseudo-impingement.”


Author(s):  
K Thuraikumar ◽  
V Naveen ◽  
Mustaqim A ◽  
Arieff AA ◽  
K Shri ◽  
...  

Introduction: Spinal tuberculosis is the most common manifestation of extrapulmonar y tuberculosis. A combination of leprosy and tuberculosis is a rare entity.Case report: A 44-year-old male patient working as a laborer presented to our hospital with complaints of severe back pain and swelling over the back, difficulty in walking, associated with constitutional symptoms. On admission, he was febrile and had leukocytosis. Initial spine X-ray showed end plate destruction and increase in soft tissue shadow at the level of T8-T9. CT spine revealed thoracic paravertebral collection extending from T7 to T9 levels, suggest ive of tuberculous spondylitis with cold abscess. Patient refused a transpedicular biopsy and was started on anti-tubercular therapy. Two weeks after commencement of treatment, he developed worsening back pain and weakness of the lower extremities. MRI spine showed a paravertebral abscess and posterior soft tissue edema involving level of T7 to T11. Patient underwent a posterior decompression, debridement and posterior instrumentation. He was discharged well, there was improvement of his lower limb power. Upon clinic review, he complained of multiple hyperpigmented, painless, nonpruritic skin lesions over the trunk and back. No previous history of eczema, psoriasis and Tinea corporis. Given the history of allergy, initial impression was hypersensitivity reaction towards the titanium implants, and he was started on anti-histamines. However, there was no improvements seen. Histopathological examination of skin lesions revealed presence of granuloma within the dermis layer, composed of epitheloid, histiocytes, lymphocytes and plasma cells. Wade-Fite stain for Mycobacterium leprae is positive. Slit skin smear shows multibacillary leprosy. Patient was started on multidrug therapy (rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone) for 1 year. He has recovered well.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 33


Author(s):  
Hongzhang Zhu ◽  
Shi-Ting Feng ◽  
Xingqi Zhang ◽  
Zunfu Ke ◽  
Ruixi Zeng ◽  
...  

Background: Cutis Verticis Gyrata (CVG) is a rare skin disease caused by overgrowth of the scalp, presenting as cerebriform folds and wrinkles. CVG can be classified into two forms: primary (essential and non-essential) and secondary. The primary non-essential form is often associated with neurological and ophthalmological abnormalities, while the primary essential form occurs without associated comorbidities. Discussion: We report on a rare case of primary essential CVG with a 4-year history of normal-colored scalp skin mass in the parietal-occipital region without symptom in a 34-year-old male patient, retrospectively summarizing his pathological and Computer Tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The major clinical observations on the CT and MR sectional images include a thickened dermis and excessive growth of the scalp, forming the characteristic scalp folds. With the help of CT and MRI Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction techniques, the characteristic skin changes could be displayed intuitively, providing more evidence for a diagnosis of CVG. At the 5-year followup, there were no obvious changes in the lesion. Conclusion: Based on our observations, we propose that not all patients with primary essential CVG need surgical intervention, and continuous clinical observation should be an appropriate therapy for those in stable condition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asiyeh Shojaee ◽  
Firooze Ronnasian ◽  
Mahdiyeh Behnam ◽  
Mansoor Salehi

AbstractBackgroundSirenomelia, also called mermaid syndrome, is a rare lethal multi-system congenital deformity with an incidence of one in 60,000–70,000 pregnancies. Sirenomelia is mainly characterized by the fusion of lower limbs and is widely associated with severe urogenital and gastrointestinal malformations. The presence of a single umbilical artery derived from the vitelline artery is the main anatomical feature distinguishing sirenomelia from caudal regression syndrome. First-trimester diagnosis of this disorder and induced abortion may be the safest medical option. In this report, two cases of sirenomelia that occurred in an white family will be discussed.Case presentationWe report two white cases of sirenomelia occurring in a 31-year-old multigravid pregnant woman. In the first pregnancy (18 weeks of gestation) abortion was performed, but in the third pregnancy (32 weeks) the stillborn baby was delivered by spontaneous vaginal birth. In the second and fourth pregnancies, however, she gave birth to normal babies. Three-dimensional ultrasound imaging showed fusion of the lower limbs. Neither she nor any member of her family had a history of diabetes. In terms of other risk factors, she had no history of exposure to teratogenic agents during her pregnancy. Also, her marriage was non-consanguineous.ConclusionThis report suggests the existence of a genetic background in this mother with a Mendelian inheritance pattern of 50% second-generation incidence in her offspring.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Morio ◽  
Hirotsugu Miyoshi ◽  
Noboru Saeki ◽  
Yukari Toyota ◽  
Yasuo M. Tsutsumi

Abstract Background Acute onset paraplegia after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a rare but well-known complication. We here show a 79-year-old woman with paraplegia caused by static and dynamic spinal cord insult not by ischemia after EVAR. Case presentation The patient underwent EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurism under general anesthesia in the supine position. She had a medical history of lumbar canal stenosis. After the surgery, we recognized severe paraplegia and sensory disorder of lower limbs. Although the possibility of spinal cord ischemia was considered at that time, postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed burst fracture of vertebra and compressed spinal cord. Conclusions Patients with spinal canal stenosis can cause extrinsic spinal cord injury even with weak external forces. Thus, even after EVAR, it is important to consider extrinsic factors as the cause of paraplegia.


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